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US5315780A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Lawn edging material anchoring arrangement

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-07-21
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Granted: 1994-05-31
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Expires: 2012-07-21
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Abstract

Abstract An anchoring arrangement for lawn edging material of the type used for defining borders of lawns and gardens. The edging material is formed of a resilient, extruded, molded plastic material and includes a relatively thin vertical wall member, which preferably has a retaining flange projecting laterally outward from a lower end thereof. The primary feature of the invention is the provision of hollow tubes that extend through the edging material and are adapted to hold plant seeds until they germinate and mature, so that the roots of the plants will anchor the material in place in the ground.

Inventors

  • 👤 James E. Thomas

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 10:03
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G9/00; A01G9/28

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 212 words
An anchoring arrangement, for molded plastic lawn edging material, of the type commonly used for defining borders of lawns and gardens, that is adapted to hold plant seeds, so that when such plants mature their roots will extend into the ground and help anchor the edging material, said arrangement comprising, in combination: (a) a relatively thin, flat, vertically disposed wall member having an upper portion, including an integral reinforcing rail adapted to be positioned above ground level, and having a lower portion adapted to be positioned below ground level; (b) a relatively thin, flat, flange member formed integrally with said wall member lower portion and disposed to project laterally outward from said wall member; (c) a plurality of longitudinally spaced, elongated, hollow, plant seed holding tubes disposed to extend in a generally vertical direction through at least one of said members; (d) each of said seed holding tubes having: (i) an open upper end adapted to be positioned above ground level to receive plant seeds inserted therein; (ii) an open lower end adapted to be positioned below ground level to allow roots of plants to pass from the tube into the ground, as the seeds germanate and the plants mature, whereby plant roots serve to anchor the edging material in the ground.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 212 words
An anchoring arrangement, for molded plastic lawn edging material, of the type commonly used for defining borders of lawns and gardens, that is adapted to hold plant seeds, so that when such plants mature their roots will extend into the ground and help anchor the edging material, said arrangement comprising, in combination: (a) a relatively thin, flat, vertically disposed wall member having an upper portion, including an integral reinforcing rail adapted to be positioned above ground level, and having a lower portion adapted to be positioned below ground level; (b) a relatively thin, flat, flange member formed integrally with said wall member lower portion and disposed to project laterally outward from said wall member; (c) a plurality of longitudinally spaced, elongated, hollow, plant seed holding tubes disposed to extend in a generally vertical direction through at least one of said members; (d) each of said seed holding tubes having: (i) an open upper end adapted to be positioned above ground level to receive plant seeds inserted therein; (ii) an open lower end adapted to be positioned below ground level to allow roots of plants to pass from the tube into the ground, as the seeds germanate and the plants mature, whereby plant roots serve to anchor the edging material in the ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of said seed holding tubes is round in cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of said seed holding tubes is rectilinear in cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of said seed holding tubes is generally funnel shaped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 36 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, where said one member has extending therethrough, at longitudinally spaced intervals, plurality of openings each of which is adapted to receive a portion of one of said seed holding tubes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of said seed holding tubes extends through said wall member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of said seed holding tubes extends through said flange member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
An anchoring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said one member has extending therethrough a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings adapted to receive said tubes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 178 words
An anchoring arrangement, for molded plastic lawn edging material, of the type commonly used for defining borders of lawns and gardens, that is adapted to hold plant seeds, so that when such plants mature their roots will extend into the ground and help anchor the edging material, said arrangement comprising, in combination: (a) a relatively thin, flat, vertically disposed wall member having an upper portion, adapted to be positioned above ground level, and having a lower portion adapted to be positioned below ground level; (b) a plurality of longitudinally spaced, elongated, hollow, plant seed holding tubes disposed to extend in a generally vertical direction through said member: (c) each of said seed holding tubes having: (i) an open upper end adapted to be positioned above ground level to receive plant seeds inserted therein; (ii) an open lower end adapted to be positioned below ground level to allow roots of plants to pass from the tube into the ground, as the seeds germanate and the plants mature, whereby plant roots serve to anchor the edging material in the ground.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 178 words
An anchoring arrangement, for molded plastic lawn edging material, of the type commonly used for defining borders of lawns and gardens, that is adapted to hold plant seeds, so that when such plants mature their roots will extend into the ground and help anchor the edging material, said arrangement comprising, in combination: (a) a relatively thin, flat, vertically disposed wall member having an upper portion, adapted to be positioned above ground level, and having a lower portion adapted to be positioned below ground level; (b) a plurality of longitudinally spaced, elongated, hollow, plant seed holding tubes disposed to extend in a generally vertical direction through said member: (c) each of said seed holding tubes having: (i) an open upper end adapted to be positioned above ground level to receive plant seeds inserted therein; (ii) an open lower end adapted to be positioned below ground level to allow roots of plants to pass from the tube into the ground, as the seeds germanate and the plants mature, whereby plant roots serve to anchor the edging material in the ground.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein each of said seed holding tubes is round in cross section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 18 words
An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein each of said seed holding tubes is rectilinear in cross section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein each of said seed holding tubes is generally funnel shaped.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 36 words
An arrangement according to claim 9, where said one member has extending therethrough, at longitudinally spaced intervals, plurality of openings each of which is adapted to receive a portion of one of said seed holding tubes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
An anchoring arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said one member has extending therethrough a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings adapted to receive said tubes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 32 words
An anchoring arrangement according to claim 9, wherein each of said tubes presents, at its lower end, a relatively sharp edge adapted to facilitate forceful insertion of the tube through the member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 175 words
An anchoring arrangement, for molded plastic lawn edging material, of the type commonly used for defining borders of lawns and gardens, comprising: (a) a wall member including a relatively thin, vertically disposed elongated strip of molded plastic material having an upper portion arranged and disposed to extend above ground level and a lower portion arranged and disposed to extend below ground level; (b) at least one seed holding tube adapted for use with a plurality of similar tubes spaced longitudinally of said wall member, said tube being arranged and disposed to extend through said wall member in a generally vertical position and having a tubular body including: (i) an upper end adapted to be positioned above ground level and having an opening to receive plant seeds inserted therein; (ii) a lower end having adapted to be positioned below ground level to allow roots of plants to pass from the tube into the ground, as the seeds germinate and the plants mature, to help anchor the wall member of the lawn edging material in the ground.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 175 words
An anchoring arrangement, for molded plastic lawn edging material, of the type commonly used for defining borders of lawns and gardens, comprising: (a) a wall member including a relatively thin, vertically disposed elongated strip of molded plastic material having an upper portion arranged and disposed to extend above ground level and a lower portion arranged and disposed to extend below ground level; (b) at least one seed holding tube adapted for use with a plurality of similar tubes spaced longitudinally of said wall member, said tube being arranged and disposed to extend through said wall member in a generally vertical position and having a tubular body including: (i) an upper end adapted to be positioned above ground level and having an opening to receive plant seeds inserted therein; (ii) a lower end having adapted to be positioned below ground level to allow roots of plants to pass from the tube into the ground, as the seeds germinate and the plants mature, to help anchor the wall member of the lawn edging material in the ground.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 16 words
An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said seed holding tube is round in cross section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 15 words
An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said seed holding tube is generally funnel shaped.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 42 words
An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said tube is closed at its lower end and has, extending through a side wall thereof adjacent said lower end, at least one opening to accomodate the passage of plant roots out of said tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 27 words
An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said tube lower end presents a relatively sharp point adapted to facilitate insertion of said tube through said wall member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US1380253A Cited
US3005287A Cited
US3188771A Cited
US3515373A Cited
US4361983A Cited
US5172517A Cited
US5121569A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-05-30 1997-11-29 1998-05-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-05-30 2001-11-29 2002-05-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-05-30 2005-11-29 2006-05-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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